Index or record



Dec. 111, 192s. 1,694,517

H. O. ROSS Dec. 11, 1928.

H. O. ROSS INDEX OR RECORD Filed Nov. 5, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WIM Patented Dec, 1l, 1928..

lUNITED sr @HERBERT 0. ROSS, 0F ST. LOUIS, zBIISSO'' il E a' INDEXOR RECORD. y

\ 9 i Application led November l.5, 1924. l Serial No. 747,936.A

rlghis invention relates generally to indexes, records, lists, and the like and, more particularly, to a certain new and .useful im-' less readily visible substantially continuous' record or sheet andsin s uch manner also that one or more of the individual record-sections may be readily removed and replaced, whereby revision of'and correction in the index or record may be effected with facility, .convenience, and economy. My present'invention has for a further ob'- ject the provision lof a record or index of the type and kind stated which is compact and inexpensive in manufacture and main- Itenance, veasily manipulated, and flexible in capacity, being readily increased and 'decreased in such regard, and eliminations and additions effected without destroying or 'affecting the remainder of the record or index.

And with the above andzother objects in view, my present invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims. y e

In the accompanying drawings, v

Figure 1 is a plan view of a sectional index or record embodying my invention; Q

Figure 2 shows 1n inverted plan an 'en'- larged fragmentof the index or record;

Figure shows in enlarged perspective a fragment of one of the indivldual recordsections or cards; s'

Figure 4 shows in enlarged'/ fragmental 'perspective a plurality of the individual. record-sections or cards` of Figure 3 in interloeked imbricated or overlapping'` relation;

Figure, 5shows in enlarged perspective a fragment of a modified form of individual record-section or card;

Figure 6 shows 1n enlarged perspective a plurality of thel individual record-sections At its opposite ends and at its pper margin i or aras f'rigure 5 in' inar'locked imbricated or overlapping relation; e

Figure 7 also'shows in inverted plan an l enlarged fragment of the index or record,

illustrating the manner of `locking land unlocking the several sections;

Figure 8 1s a fragmental plan view of a modified form of sectional index ,or record lembodying my invention;

Figures 9fand 10 showin enlarged perspective fragments of the individual record-sections or cards of the index or record of Figure 8; and 4 Figure 11 showsl the record-sections or cards of Figures 8 and 9 in iiatwise re 'stration for interlocking relation with the older or back or with another similarly registering pair of individual record-sections orl cards.

Referring now morein detail and by reference characters to fthe drawings, and rst'to the vso-called preferred form of the index or record illustrated in Figures 1,' 4 and 7 A, A, designate the main separate individualrecjord-sections or cards of the index, each of which Vcards or sections is'constructed ,of

somewhat flexible material, such for instance,

`as suitable paper, and each of which is of suitable predetermined length and breadth,I forvll purposes of present description, ythe length dimension o each section or card being the distance from side edge to side edge i thereof and the breadth dimension of each -section or card being the. distance from upper to lower edge thereof- .Each card or section A, as best seen in Figures and 4 is formed suitably adjacent its opposed or op-` posite side or so-called vertical margins with a pair of substantial-ly identical' vertically aligned` so-called obtuse-angular slots or openings 1, 2, each of such slots 1 2,` comprising a portion 3 disposed vertically" section andan upwardly and inwardly inclined portion 4. It may be here stated that.- "y the slots 1, 2, are sutabl spaced vertically orbreadthwise of the carv and also aligned in pairs `horizontally or lengthwise of the card.

u each `card A is cut away or recesse and formed with a pair of also horizontallyl aligned opposed `tenons or tongues 5, whichl tongues bodily project lengthwise of the card beyond the plane` of the vertically disposed portions' 3 of the slotsl, 2, but preferably not beyond the plane of the sidey and upper of the I marginal edges. of the card, the tonguesA 5 j. at their base or neck lying slightlyinward- ,of such individual record-sections or cards in index or record formation, a pair of the cards, as best seen in Figure 4, are disposed in approximately atwise superposed relation, preferably the one card suitably bodily flexed, 'and its tenons 5 inserted endwise within the upper horizontally aligned pair of slots l of the other card. The upper pair of slot-s ljof the then front or overlapping card then register with the lower pair of slots 2 of -the then reanor overlapped card. A third card is then superposed latwise upon the first two cards, and the tenons 5 of such third card inserted endwise into the describedregistering upper slots l and lower slots 2 of the then two rear cards. The -upper slots 1` of the then front or kthird card register with the lower pair of slots 2 of the then intermediate or second card. A vfourth card is now superposed ilatwise upon the third card and the tenons 5 of such fourth card, in turn, inserted endwise into the then registeringslots l and 2 of thethird and second cards. When so inserted, the tongues or tenons 5 of the fourth or front card partly overlie the lower marginal end-portions 6 of the originally rst and now rearmost card, as indicated at a', Figure 7 and with the several cards so disposed in imbricated or overlapping relation,

y it will be noted that the rearmost card underlies the inclined portions 4 of the registering slots l and 2 of the second and third cards directly in front thereof. -With^the\ several cards so arranged and connected, they are, as will be noted, disposed in an imbricated or overlapping series with the upper marginal portion a of each card exposed and 1 larged portions of the tongues 5 of the yfourth card, or, reversely, such extended portions of the tongues 5 of the fourth card are ldisposed under such marginal end-port-ions`6 of the {irst card, as indicated at y, Figure 7.

With the tongues 5 of the fourth card so `en .gaged with the first card, the several described cards are, as will vbe seen, detachably secured together in slot-restricting relation. The several cards are thus interlocked in an Vimbricated or overlapping series and present, with aportion of eachvcard exposed, a

substantially continuous, though sectional, sheet, convenient for the recording or indexing of names, data, information, and the like.

In a similar manner, a fifth card may be disposed upon the fourth card 'and nterlocked at its inserted tongues with the marginal end-portions 6 of the then second card, and in such manner and by additional individual cards or sections, the index or record may be extended and enlarged to meet any particular requirements.

i Preferably to facilitate handling of the connected or interlocked cards A and their insertion in a file, desk-drawer, or the like, I provi-de a unitary holder B comprising a sheet of lsuitable sheet material, such as, for instance, relatively heavy paper-board" or lightsheet-metal,'folded upon itself intermediate its ends to provide a back section 7 anda front section 8. Sheet B when So folded is of suitable dimension, width and lengt-h, to approximately correspond with the length 1and the combined overlapped breadth of the several connected .cards A, .and as seen in Figurejl, front section 8 is preferably of reduced length relatively to back section 7 and isprovided or formed longitudinally adjacent its opposed or opposite vertical inargins with rows or series ofvslots or openings 9 similar in form to the card-slots 1, 2, the slots 9 being also equidistantly spaced and aligned'horizontally in pairs. The slots 9 accommodate thel convenient insertion of the tongues 5 of the cards A at the top or upper end of the connected or interlocked series,

and the flap 8 thus functions to suspend the y series of connected cards A hingedly over and upon the back or main holder-section 7' for convenienthandling and manipulation.

As will be noted, the cardsA are of more or less extended breadth and provide considerable surfacev area for pertinent entries having to do with a particular index or., record.

In some instances or for certain requirements,

separate individual record-sections'or cards of reduced breadth are desirable, and hence I provide the cards C of Figure 5, which, as will be seen, are of less breadth and surface area than the cardsA, but of substantially identical structure, with the exception that the cards C have merely one pair of tongue-accommodating slots, as, for instance, slots l, instead of two pairs of such slots, as in the broader cards A. The cards C are also similarly connected and locked together, as best seen in Figui-e6, initially the' lower marginal end-portions 6` of the firstl card and the tongues 5 of the third card being interengaged, in like manner as described concerning the first andfourth cards A, to interlock the reduced or narrower cardsC in a similar imbricated series, each succeeding and additional card'C interlocking at its tongues 5 with the marginal end-portions 6 of an adjacent card C, and so on throughout the en- 13" y largement or extension of the series in index or record formation.

Frequently it is also desirable that a particular index or record as a whole be of greater surface area relatively to the surface area of a record formed either by yseries of the cards A or C without an extended enj largement of the complete record. To meet `the card A of Figure A of Figure 3 andthe slots and tongues and at their edges throughout, except at their unequal upper marginal/ portion a and d, when, as will be seen by reference particularly .to Figure 11, a part of marginal portion d of the undei' and larger card D is exposed. Pairs of the cards A and D in such slot and tongue registration are then manipulated and connected together as'units in the formation of the sectional record or index illustrated in Figure '8 in substantially identically the same manner as described in connection with the interlocking of a series of the single cards A in the formation of the sectional record' of Figures l and 2, but I 'thus' provide in the record of Figurev 8 a record or index of substantially twice the number of cards or individual sections in the index or record of Figures l and '2 without extending the length of the combined or connected sections beyond a convenient size 4for easy handling and manipulation. v

It will be evident thatby disengaging the lower marginal portions 6 of a respective card or of a respective pair of slot and tongue registering cards from the tenons or tongues 5 of the next second or thirdv adjacent single section or card or pairs of cards, as indicated in Figurer, one or more of the single individual sections or cards or one or more of the .registering pairs of cards may be readily removed and replaced substantially at any and additionsv and eliminations in the index or record thus'4 point'in the connected series,

quickly accomplished, and, asstated, the record or index may be so broken at any desired point and again connected. l i

Normally, and as suspended from. the holder section 8, portions only cards are'exposed andvisible, but by suitable flexing of the respective connected cards, subof the several 'of'the several cards, or, as it might be dethe relative positions ofthe sections 7 and 8 .i of holder B may by hinged movement of flap Sand its suspended record be reversed, when similarly the' underlfaces of the, several cards may lbe conveniently utilized for the reception of desired record or index entries. My new index or record is exceedingly 'flexibleis inexpensive in manufacture and main` tenance, is readily increased or decreased in size to meet requirements, is readily manipulated as to size and for corrections and addi-` tions, and provides a most efficient. visibly continuous, though sectional, meansfor the compilation of information, data, naines, and entries-for various purposes.

V I am aware that changes in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts o f my new sectional record or index may be made andsubstituted for those herein shown and described without departing from thenature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A Vsectional record including a plurality of separate sections each provided with a pair ofhorizontally aligned and opposed tongues and a pair of horizontally aligned and opposed obtuse-angular slots and adapted for interengagement at said tongues and slots in an imbricated series. 2. Asectional record including .a plurality of separate sections each provided with a pair of horizontally aligned'an'd opposed tongues and a pair of horizontally aligned and opposed slots and adapted f or integlocking engagement at said tongues and slots iny an imbricated series with respective sections ex tending across and thereby restricting the.- slots of other respective sections.

3. A sectional record including apl rality of separate sectionseach provided with a pair of horizontally aligned and opposed tongues and a pair of horizontally aligned and op posed obtuse-angular slots and adapted for linterlocking engagement at said tongues and slots -inan imbricated 'series with respective sections extending across and thereby restrict- `ing the slots ofother respective sections.`

.of separate sections each provided with a pair of horizontally'alignedand opposed tongues stantially theentii'e front surface varea feachia'd'alpair -of horizontally aligned oppositely disposed obtuse-angular slots, portions of 1 said slots being disposed vertically of the re-v v spective sections, said sections being adapted is presented for the entry of matters pertinent to the particular record, and by flexing the holder-section 8 together with the several connectedcards parallel with thelower edges for interengagemeiit at said tongues and slots 4. A sectional record including a pluralityflV in an iinbricated series, the tongues having at a point Within their length a breadth greater and pairs of horizontally -aligned oppositely,

disposed obtuse-angularslots, portions of said slots being disposed vertically of the respective sections, said sections being adapted lfor interengagement at said tongues and slots in an inibricated series, the tongues having at a point Within their length a breadth greater than the length ofthe vertically disposed Dortions of said slots and a respective section being adapted to restrict the inclined portions of slots ofanother respective section when said tongues and slots are in interengagement. 6. A sectional record including a plurality of separate sections, some of which sections are of greater breadth than the other sections and each of said sections being provided with a pair of horizontally aligned and opposed tongues and a pair of horizontally aligned opposed slots, said sections being disposed in tongue and slot registering pairs and adapted in such pairvrelat-ion for interengageinent at said tongues and slots in an imbricated series. 7. A sectional record including a plurality of separate sections, soIne of which sections are of greater breadth than the other sections and each of said sections being provided with a pair of horizontallyv aligned and opposed tongues andapair of horizontally aligned oppostely disposed obtuse-angular slots, por# tionso'f said slots being disposed vertically of the respective sections, said sections bei g disposed in tongue andslot registering pai s and each pair comprising'one of said sections of greater breadth and one of'said sections of lesser breadth, said sections being adapted in such pair relation for interengagement at said tongues and Aslots in an imbricated series, the tongues having at a point within their length a breadth greater than the length of the vertically disposed portions of said slots and a. respective pair of sections being adapted to restrict the inclined portions of slots of another respective pair of sections When'the said tongues and slots are in interengagement.

8. A sectional record including a `plurality 'of separate sections, someof which sections are ofgreater breadth than the other sections and each of said sections being provided with a pair of horizontally aligned and opposed tongues and pairs of horizontally aligned oppositely disposed obt-use-angular slots, portions of said slots being disposed vertically of the respective sections, said sections being disposed in tongue and slot registering pairs and v each of said pairs comprising one of said sections of greater breadth and one of said sections of lesser breadth, said sections being and adapted in such pairs for interengagement at said tongues and slots in an imbricated series, the tongues having at a point within their length' a breadth greater than the length of the vertically disposed portion of said slots and a respective pair of sections being adapted to restrict the inclined portions of slots of another respective pair of sections when thetongues and slots are 1n 1nterengagelment. t

9. A sectional record lincluding a plurality of separate sections, one of which sections is provided with a pair of horizontally aligned the third section overlaps upon the second section and the second section upon the first section, the tongues having at a point Within their length a breadth greater thanthe length of the vertically disposed portions of said slots and the first section being adapted to restrict the inclined portions of the slots of the second section when said slots and tongues are in interengagement.

/10. A sectional record including a plurality t of separate sections, one of` which sections is provided with a pair of horizontally aligned obtuse-angular slots,portions of said slots being disposed vertically of the respective sections, a third one of Which sections is provided with a pair of horizontally aligned oppositely disposed tongues, and a second one of which sections is provided with both a pair of said tongues and a pair of said slots, said sections being adapted for interengagenient at said tongues and slots in such relation that the third section overlaps upon the second section and the/ second section upon the first section, the tongues havingat a point Within their length a breadth greater than the length of the vertically disposed portions of said slots and the irst section being adapted to extend across and thereby-restrict the inclined vportions of the slots of the second section 'when said slots and tongues arein interengagement, the first section being also adapted for marginal engagement with the inserted tongues of the third section for interlocking the several sections together;

11. A sectional record including a plurality of separate sections eaclprovided with a pair of .horizontally aligned andopposed tongues and a pair of horizontally aligned and opposed slots and adapted for cooperation in an'- imbricated series, the tongues and -slots of one section being adapted for interengagewith both a pair of said tongues and pairs of said slots, said sections being adapted for interengageinent at said tongues and slots in v of separate sections, 45

for interengagement/with the slots' and tongues of others'c'tions and a respective s ection being adapted'ifor marginalyinterlocking with the tongues of another respective section. Y,

13. A sectional record'iicluding a plurality of separate sections, one of which sections is provided with a pair of horizontally aligned oppositely disposed obtuse-angular slots, portions of said slots being disposed vertically of the section, a fourth one of which sect-ions is provided witha pair of horizontally aligned and opposed tongues, and a second one and a third one of which sections are each provided such relation that the fourth section overlaps upon the third section, the third section upon the second section, 4and the second section upon the first section with the upper lpair of slots of the third section registering with the lower pair .of slots of the second section, the tongues having at a point within their length a breadth greater than the length ofl the vertically disposed portions of said slots and the rst section bein adapted to extend across and thereby restrict the inclined portions bf the registering slots of the second and third sections when said slots and tongues are in interengagement. x

14. A sectional record including a plurality one of which sections is provided with a pair of horizontally aligned oppositely disposed obtuse-angular slots, portions of said slots being dis osed vertically of the section, a fourth vone oi) which sections is provided with a pair of horizontally aligned and opposedl tongues, and a second one and third one of which sections are each rovided with both 'a air of said tongues an pairs 'of said slots, saidsections being adapted forin-y terengagement at said tongues and slots in suchrelation that the fourth section overlaps upon. the third section, thethird section upon the second section, fand the second section upon the rst section with the u per pairrof slots of the third section registering with the lower pair of slots of the second section, the tongues having at a point within their length a breadth greater than the length ofthe verticall disposed portions of said slots and the Arst sectionbeing adapted to, extend across and thereby restrict the inclined portionsof the registering slots of the second y and third sections when said slots and tongues -are in interengagement, the first section being also adapted for marginal engagement ,with the inserted tongues of the fourth section for interlocking the several sections to- 15. A sectional record including a plurality of separate sections each provided with a pair of horizontally aligned and opposed tongues and a pair of horizontally aligned oppositely disposed obtuse-angular slots, portions .of

said slots being disposed vertically of the respective sections, said sections being adaptedy for in terengagement at said tongues and slots in an imbricated series, the tongues havingat a point within their length a breadth greater than the length of the vertically disposed por tions-of said slots and respective sections being adapted to extend :zross and thereby restrict the inclined portions of slots of other respective sections and respective sections being adapted for marginal engagement with the inserted tongues of respective sections for interlocking the several sections together.

16. A sectional record including a plurality of separate sections each provided with a pair of horizontally aligned and opposed tongues and pairs of horizontallyaligned oppositely disposed obtuse-angular slots, portions of saidslots being disposed vertically of the respective sections, said sections being adapted .for interengagement at said tongues andi slots it in an imbricated. series, the upper' pair f` slots of respective sections, when the same are in said relation, registering with the lower pair of slots of respective other sections,l the tongues having at a point within their length a breadth greater than the length of the vertically disposed portions of said slots and respective sections `"being adapted to extend across and thereby restrict the registering inclined portions of slots of respective other sections and respective sections being adapted for marginal engagement with the inserted tongues of respectiveother sections for interlocking the several sectionsy together.

los

17. In a sectional record, a section`m\ar ginally recessed upon its opposite side ed es and provided with a ypair' of horizontally aligned slots and at said' recesses with 18. In a sectional record, a section marginally recessed upon its opposite side edges and provided with a ypair of horizontally aligned and opposed obtuse-angular slots and at said recesses .with a -pairof horizontally aligned' and opposed tongues. 19. A sectional record including a plurality of separate marginally recessed sections each provided with a pair of horizontally aligned a pair vof horizontally aligned and opposed tongues'.

and op osed slots and at said recesses with ai" pair o l horizontally aligned andv opposed ytong-ues and adapted for interengage'meiit at f said tongues and slots in an imbricated series.

the, tongues of each respective section being Y concealed by an adjacent section.

20. 'A sectional record including a plurality of separate sections each marginally recessed upon its opposite side edges and each provided with a pair of horizontally aligned and opposed obtuse angular slots and within said recesses with a pair of horizontally aligned and opposed tongues, said sections being 10 adapted forinterengagement at said tongues and slots in an imbricated series and when so engaged the tongues of each respective section being concealed by an adjacent section. 21. In a sectional record, a section provided withl a pair of horizontally aligned and opposed tongues and a pair of horizontally aligned and opposed obtuse-angular slols, portions of said slots being disposed vertically of the section'and the tongues having at a point within their length a breadth greater than the length of the vertically disposed portions of the slots.

22. A sectional record including a plurality of separate sections each provided with a pair of horizontally aligned and opposed tongues and a'pair of horizontally aligned and opposed obtuse-angular slots and adapted for interengagementat said tongues and slots in an imbricated series, portions of said slots being disposed vertically of the respective seotions and said tongueshaving at a point within their length a breadth greater than the length of the vertically disposed portions of said slots. 23. A sectional record including a plurality of separate sections each provided with a pair of horizontally aligned and opposed tongues and a pair of horizontally aligned and opposed obtuse-angular slots and having interengagement at said tonguesand slots in an imbricated series, in combination with a back having a similar pair of slots for interengagement with the tongues of one of said sections.

' 24. A sectional record including more than two separate sections each providedY with a pair of.` horizontally aligned and opposed tongues and a pair of horizontally aligned and opposed slots and adapted for interengagement at said tongues and slots in overlapping arrngement with one section marginally projecting overa portion of each of the tongues of a non-adj acent section.

25. A sectional record'including more than two separate sections each provided with a pair of horizontally aligned and opposed tongues and a pair of horizontally aligned and opposed obtuse-angular slots rand adapted for interengagement at said tongues and slots in overlapping arrangement with one section marginally projecting over a portion of each of the tongues of al non-adjacent section.

26. A sectionalrecord including a plurality of separate sections each provided with a pair of horizontally aligned and opposed tongues and a pair of horizontally aligned and opposed slots and adapted for interengagement at said tongues and slots in an imbricated series, in combination with a back havingv a pair of slots for interengagement with the tongues of one of said sections.

(lli

27. In a sectional record, in combination with a back, of a vplurality of record-sections jointed edgewise together in an imbricated series with an edge portion of each card exposedand visible, onev of said sections having jointed connection with the back and the back being flexible breadthwise of said sections,

whereby onfliexing the connected back and cards an additional portion of the area of each respective card is exposed.

Iv28. In a sectional record, in combination with a back, of a plurality of record-sections having tongue and slot interengagernent and disposed in an imbricated series with an edge portion of each card exposed and visible, one of said sections having tongue and slot interengagement with saidback and the back being flexible breadthwise of said sections, whereby on flexing the connected back and cards an additional portion of thearea of each respective card is exposed.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification'.

` HERBERT O; RQSS. 

